The best gaming headset

Finding a headset that not only sounds good, delivers clear audio, great soundscapes and just the right amount of bass, but also has a great mic, feels right on the head and costs less than a new console..that’s the challenge and that's where we can help.

There are some absolute star performers out there, but there is one clear winner right now and it can be had for a great price. And if you’re after a super-budget option an audiophile high-end option or a set of cans with no wires to trip up your pets or partner we’ve got the best gaming headset recommendation for you.

It was no April Fool’s when storage and PC memory manufacturer, Kingston, released a gaming headset back at the start of April 2014. Two years later and it still stands the test of time.

Kingston brought in the expertise of Swedish gaming experts, QPAD, to help it with its first set of headphones. And, building on the excellent QH-90 cans, Kingston tweaked the original’s slightly flat bass response just enough to make the HyperX Cloud an astoundingly good headset.

You genuinely won’t find a set of headphones that sound as good for the price of the original Clouds. Kingston created a second gen version with USB 7.1 surround support, but changed little else, which still makes the originals perfect if you just want a standard 3.5mm connection.

Kingston has gone its own way with its new Revolver headset, but it’s twice the price of the stunning HyperX Cloud.

Sound Blaster is a brand synonymous with gaming audio history stretching back decades and the closed-back H5 headset is another great option for getting the best aural experience in-game. They’re a little heavier than the Kingstons, and don’t have the same level of frequency response, but the Sound BlasterX H5 cans still have a great sound to them.

Audio-Technica has been creating audiophile headphones for years, but its first gaming headset, the ATH-AG1, didn’t go down so well with gamers. Not resting on its laurels though it has recently released a revamped version of the closed-back cans, with more a more solid soundscape and incredible detail. The only downside of this great-sounding headset is the slightly odd ‘wing’ design of its headband.

The seriously lightweight Roccat Renga headset certainly isn’t going to crush your neck over a long gaming session, but its acoustic design might not be everyone’s cup of tea. A rarity in gaming terms the Renga headset is an open-back design - that means there’s no noise cancelling at all so sound can leak in and out making them largely unsuitable for loud environments. But open-back cans do create a much more natural soundscape without the acoustic restrictions of a closed ear-cup.

The artist formerly known as the SteelSeries H Wireless is still the best wireless gaming headset around. The versatile SteelSeries Siberia 800 is as aurally excellent as it is easy to use. And with its base unit taking care of all the inputs it’s also got great cross compatibility too, so there is almost no reason not to ditch the wires from your gaming setup.